Portable table



March 24, 1964 C. H. GAUDETTE PORTABLE TABLE Filed NOV. 14, 1961 United States Patent 3,125,825 PORTABLE TABLE Charles H. Gaudette, 14690 Archdale, Detroit 27, Mich. Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,197 4 Claims. (Cl. 4559) This invention relates to portable tables of the type used to support writing and reading material, and particularly concerns a portable table having improvements which allow the table to be supported in a proper position for supporting the writing and reading material by the cooperative action of a persons body and clothing without the use of the persons hands or arms when the person is standing.

Portable tables are commonly employed in manufacturing plants, research institutions and many other locations both inside and outside of buildings for providing a convenient means upon which a person may support writing tablets, charts, blueprints, maps, record sheets, and the like for reading or for making written records of all sorts of information and scientific data. These tables must be sufficiently strong to properly support the writing material while being sufficiently lightweight and non-bulky to be conveniently carried around, offtimes in cramped quarters. Moreover, these tables should be so constructed that a minimum of effort and time is required to handle and carry them.

A very widely used type of portable table is the well known clip board which comprises a flat sheet of rigid material having a hold down clip of some sort attached to the outer end thereof for clamping paper and the like and holding it in position for writing thereon or for reading the same. While this board certainly provides a good supporting surface, it must be supported by one arm and hand in order to be used.

There are many situations, however, where it is not convenient for the person using the portable table to waste one hand so to speak in supporting the same. An example of one such situation is where an engineer must rapidly read and record a number of datum while manipulating a reading instrument and while standing to do so. With one or both of his hands occupied in so manipulating the reading instrument, the table must be layed aside to take each reading and then picked up for the recording of each reading particularly where the readings each involve numerous figures.

One approach which has been taken to overcome this inconvenience is to provide the table with strap means for attaching it to a persons leg in a position for writing thereon. Though this approach may be effective in obviating the necessity for supporting the table by one arm or hand, its inconvenience is apparent since the wearer must sit down in order to use the table. Moreover, this and other prior art table attaching means have usually comprised a plurality of straps or other relatively unwieldy attaching devices which represent considerable inconvenience to a hurried engineer and similarly disposed persons. The present invention obviates these difficulties by providing the table with an attaching member or flap at one end thereof which flap is preferably curved to be readily inserted inside the trousers and belt or inside of only the belt to fit snugly against the front of a persons clothing or body to support the table in a position for supporting various items. The table attaching means or flap is thereby positioned out of the way and does not interfere with the reading or writing or with the maneuverability of the wearer in cramped quarters.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simply constructed and economical portable table which is so constructed that it may be comfortably supported cooperatively by a persons body and clothing in a position for using the table as a support without the Patented Mar. 24, 1964 need for hand or arm assistance or for burdensome'and tedious attaching means such as straps and the like.

Further objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the writing table looking generally toward the rear thereof;

FIG. 2 is another isometric view of the table looking generally at the side thereof;

FIG. 3 is :a side view of the table shown clamped to a persons trousers and belt;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the table looking generally toward the rear thereof with the flap in its folded position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the table using a modified form of hinge;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the hinge of FIG. 5 taken in the direction of the arrow A;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the line 7-7; and

FIG. 8 is a modified form of the table.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing, the table or board comprises a flat top or body portion 10 having an arcuate end 12 so shaped as to conform to the front of a persons body. A pair of side supports 14 and 16 are secured to the underside of the top portion 10 adjacent the side edges thereof by any suitable means such as adhesives, nai ls, screws or the like and terminate respectively in shoulders 18 and 20 which extend generally downwardly from the top portion 10 at a slight angle with respect to the perpendicular thereto.

An attaching member or flap 22 which is given an arcuate shape at its center region to also conform to the front portion of a persons body is provided with relatively flat edge portions '24 and 26 which are hinged to the top portion 10 by suitable hinge means 28. These hinges may be of any suitable material and configuration land may be attached in any suitable manner to the flap 22 and the top portion \10. For example, hinges 28 may be made from flexible plastic material such as polypropylene or vinyl and adhesively bonded or tacked as shown to the top surface of portion 10 and either the top or bottom surfaces of flap portions 24 and 26. Top portion 10, supports 14 and 16 and flap 22 may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, wood, or fiber board.

It is seen that the flap 22 may be inserted inside of the belt 23 and top portion 24 of :a persons trousers when the top portion 10 and side portions 14 and 16 are in their up position and shoulders 18 and 20 are spaced from flap portions 24 and 26. Upon downward movement of the top portion 10 and side portions 14 and 16 the shoulders 18 and 20 will become engaged with the belt and clamp the belt and top portion of the trousers against portions 24 and 26 of the flap. The shoulders 18 and 20 and the iiap 22 are sufiiciently long to prevent pressure on the top :10 of the table from causing the same to sag downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to such a degree that writing thereon would become difficult. The length of flap 22 is such that the pressure exerted on the persons body by the lower end of the flap is not uncomfortable as might be the case if the flap were very short in comparison to the iength of the top 10 which actually becomes an operating lever when weight is placed thereon. In this regard it is noted that the contoured shape of flap 22 assists in preventing discomfort of the wearer due to excessive localized pressure on the body.

In FIGS. 5-7, the top portion 10 of the table is made sufficiently rigid so that side supports 14 and 16 are not necessary. Also the hinged connection between the flap 22 and body portion 10 as hereinafter explained is such that shoulders 18 and 20' are not needed. Hinges 30 comprising segmcnts 32 and 34 pivotally pinned together by pin 36 are. shown in FIGS. -7 secured by screws 38 to top. 10. and portions. 24. and 26 of flap. 22. Segment 32 has a curled pin receiving portion 33 and segment 34 has curled portions 35 between which portion 33 nests. An. important features of the table construction of FIGS. 1-7 is that the flap '22 may conveniently be folded up and back onto top as shown in FIG. 4 for carrying and storing the table when not in use.

With reference to the hinge structure of FIGS. 5-7 it is noted that portions corresponding to 33 and 3 5 could readily be formed integrally on the table portions 10 and 22 inthe molding of these portions from plastic material. Such construction would eliminate the need for the assembly steps of locating and. attaching the separate hinge segments 32 and 34 to the table portions 10 and 22.

In FIG. 8 the top, 10 and flap 22 of the table are integrally formed from a single piece of plastic material. This construction may conveniently be made by heat bending and forming a single piece of thermoplastic ma terial into the shape shown in FIG. 8 and thereafter allowing it to harden. This construction may also be conviently formed from either thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic materials in a single molding operation by well known methods. In this construction the arcuate molded joint between the flap 22 and top 10 provides exceptional strength and rigidity to the entire table. It is noted; that flap 22 may be arcuate throughout its entire length since hinges are not employed and the necessity for flat portions 24 and 26 are obviated. The table of FIG. 8 has the advantages of extreme simplicity, exception-a1 strength, and economical construction.

In. any of the forms of applicants table shown, the top 10' thereof may be provided with a paper hold down clip of the type usually used on clip boards, or of any other convenient type.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of, the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable table comprising a first substantially flat surface, and a second surface extending from one end of said first surface at an angle thereto and being contoured to fit a persons torso with said second surface being adapted to be inserted inside a portion of persons clothing for supporting said first surface within arms reach of the supporting person.

2. A portable table comprising a first substantially flat surface, and a second surface extending from one end of said first surface at an angle thereto and being integral therewith, said second surface being contoured tofit a persons torso with said second surface being adapted to be inserted inside a portion of persons clothing for supporting said first surface within arms reach of the supporting person.

3. A portable table comprising a first substantially flat surface having a shoulder adjacent one end thereof, a second surface contoured to fit a persons torso and adapted to be inserted inside a persons clothing for support relative thereto, hinge means interconnecting said one of said first surface to one end of said contoured surface for supporting said first surfaceon said second surface and for providing relative movement therebetween, and a portion on said second surface adapted to be aligned with said first surface shoulder to clamp the clothing of a person between said first and second surfaces when said second surface is inserted therein for scouring said first and second surfaces thereon.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which said second surface is contoured to fit a persons torso at the front portion thereof by having an arcuate shape at its center region.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,572 Slavik Nov. 30, 1897 1,564,708 Payne Dec. 8, 1925 1,569,157 Thompson Jan. '12, 1926 2,806,609 Grobizna Sept. 17, 1957 

1. A PORTABLE TABLE COMPRISING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SURFACE, AND A SECOND SURFACE EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID FIRST SURFACE AT AN ANGLE THERETO AND BEING CONTOURED TO FIT A PERSON''S TORSO WITH SAID SECOND SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INSIDE A PORTION OF PERSON''S CLOTHING FOR SUPPORTING SAID FIRST SURFACE WITHIN ARMS REACH OF THE SUPPORTING PERSON. 